The Au Pair/Nanny/Babysitter Check Scam

A popular variant of check cashing fraud is where international au pair or nannies will be recruiting for work on the Internet. They will be sent a cashiers check which they are told is for relocation and travel expenses.

Soon after the au pair cashes the check, they are contacted by the scammer who informs them that the job is no longer available. The scammer requests the au pair refund the check by paying them through a money wire service like Western Union.

If you have accepted and cashed a cheque from someone you do not know, and they go on to request you wire then money using either Western Union or Moneygram, do not wire any money and let your bank know that the cheque you cashed it likely faked. This way you have only wasted a little time, not lots of money.

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